The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is the world’s largest technical professional organization for the advancement of technology. IEEE and its members inspire a global community to innovate for a better tomorrow through its more than 400,000 members in more than 160 countries, and its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. IEEE is the trusted “voice” for engineering, computing, and technology information around the globe.
The IEEE History Committee, a committee of the IEEE Board of Directors is responsible for promoting the collection, writing, and dissemination of historical information in the fields covered by IEEE technical and professional activities, as well as historical information about IEEE.
The IEEE History Center is located at the IEEE Operations Center in Piscataway, New Jersey, USA. The mission of the IEEE History Center is to preserve, research, and promote the history of information and electrical technologies. The Center maintains many useful resources for the engineer for the historian of technology, and for anyone interested in the development of electrical and computer engineering and their role in modern society. The History Center building is not a museum and does not contain artifacts or exhibits, being merely offices and the library. Visiting scholars and researchers are welcome to use the research library and archives, by appointment only. To make an appointment, please contact [email protected] and see the Center’s location and contact information. Most of the Center’s resources are available online at the Engineering and Technology History Wiki. The Center’s holdings include the IEEE Archives which consist of the unpublished records of IEEE and a collection of historical photographs relating to the history of electrical and computer technologies and a collection of oral history transcripts of pioneering engineers. The Center runs several other programs, internships and fellowships relating to the history of IEEE and its technologies. The Center’s activities are documented by its Newsletter, published three times per year.
The IEEE Victorian Section serves over 2,000 members and was founded in 1975 as a subsection of the Australian Section and became an independent section in 1983. The Tasmanian Sub-Section is also a part of the Victorian Section. The Victorian Section comprises of a number of Technical Chapters, Student Branches and Affinity Groups that typically organise over 100 events per year including technical talks, workshops, short courses, conferences, industry engagement, networking and social events throughout the year.
The IEEE Victorian Section History Committee seeks to provide resources related to the history of the IEEE Victorian Section as well as information related to the history of electrical, electronics, computing, IT and related technology in Victoria. We welcome suggestions for activities, site visits, talks or additional material of relevance to add to the resources and hyperlinks provided below.
The IEEE Victorian Section History Committee consists of:
The IEEE Victorian Section began originally as a sub-section in 1975 to the then ‘Australia Section’. It was primarily driven by staff from the now historic Telecom Australia (Telstra) Research Laboratories located in Clayton. The 1975 IEEE President, Arthur Stern, visited Australia in October 1975. In late 1975, as a result of an earlier petition, the Victorian Sub-Section was formed. The Victorian sub-section was active for around 3 years and then became dormant. The old sub-section was rejuvenated and was re-formed as a Section on 12 August 1983.
2008 – Former North Queensland Section renamed North Australia Section
2009 – Tasmanian Sub-Section formed within Victorian Section (Feb 14)
IEEE In Victoria/Tasmania
1975 – Petition circulated for the formation of a Victorian Sub-Section of the (then) Australian Section. The Petition was subsequently approved, but there is no record of local activity until 1981.
1981 – Victorian Sub-Section re-formed following a Special General Meeting held in Melbourne (October 20). One hundred and fourteen (114) Victorian Section members in attendance, together with Max J. Simons representing the Australian Section. Brian G. Love (IBM Australia) was confirmed as Interim Sub-Section Chair.
First formal meeting of IEEE Victorian Sub-Section Committee (December).
1982 – IEEE President Robert W. Larson visits Victoria. Larson also presented a lecture on Control Theory before a meeting of Victorian Sub-Section.
1983 – IEEE Victorian Sub-Section upgraded to Section status (Aug 12).
1983 – Colin Kline was the first Student Branch Councillor at the Ballarat College of Advanced Education (now known as the University of Ballarat), circa 1983.
Symposium on Women in Engineering and Computer Science held in Melbourne (Aug 23), jointly sponsored by IEEE Victorian Section and IEAust. Electrical & Communications Engineering Branch, Victoria Division. This was (arguably) the first women-in-engineering event of its type held in Australia.
1984 – IEEE Centennial Medals awarded to Prof. Douglas G. Lampard (Monash U.) and Ian P. Bates (SECV).
First issue of Victorian Section Newsletter (no masthead title). Anthony E. Gascoigne, editor.
Communications Chapter established (Apr 4); L. John Millott (Telecom Australia) founding chair. This was the first technical chapter of IEEE in Victoria.
Inauguration of EEEVIC inter-society cooperative scheme on initiative of IEEE Victorian Section.
1985 – Computer Chapter established (Jul 8). Prof. Peter C. Poole (University of Melbourne) founding chair.
1986 – First issue of Victorian Section Journal Uplink (June). Anthony E. Gascoigne, editor.
1988 – Power Engineering Chapter (later Power & Energy Chapter) established (Jan 19). Harry McDonald (CitiPower) founding chair.
1989 – Death of Brian G. Love, founding Section Chair (May 17).
1990 – Engineering Management (later Technology Management) Chapter established (May 14). Robin A. Court (Telecom Australia) founding chair.
1991 – Victorian Section membership passes 1000.
Raymond A. Jarvis elected IEEE Fellow on nomination by Victorian Section.
1992 – Region 10 Technical Conference (TenCon’92) held in Melbourne (Nov 11-13). Kevin Forward (University of Melbourne) and Bala S. Kumble (Telecom Australia) joint conference chairs. This was the first TenCon held in Australia.
1993 – 100th committee meeting of IEEE Victorian Section (April)
1994 – First issue of revamped section newsletter Uplink** (March). Chris W. Dobson, editor.
Death of Prof. Douglas G. Lampard (Sep 01). Lampard was a member of the original IEEE Australian Section committee, a founding member of Victorian Sub-Section and Section committees, and an IEEE Centennial Medallist.
1996 – Dalma Novak (University of Melbourne) elected Section Chair (first female incumbent).
1997 – Communications Chapter wins the IEEE Chapter of the Year Award 1997. Award later presented to 1997 Chapter Chair Enn Vinnal at Sections Congress ’99 in Vancouver.
1998 – Rodney B. Waterhouse (RMIT University) appointed as the first Student Activities coordinator in Victorian section.
EMBS Chapter formed (May 28). Brian J. Lithgow (Monash University) founding chair. AP/MTT Chapter formed (Jun 19). James R. Scott (RMIT University) founding chair. ED/LEOS (later Electro-Optics) Chapter formed (Oct 7). Dalma Novak (University of Melbourne) founding chair.
Globecom’98 conference held in Sydney. Prof. Hugh Bradlow (Telstra) conference chair; Enn Vinnal (Victorian Section) conference secretary.
1999 – Dalma Novak (immediate past Victorian Section Chair) elected Chair of IEEE Australia Council (first female incumbent).
University of Tasmania Student Branch formed (Dec 27). Nil recorded activity of this subunit to present date (2011).
2000 – Eleven (11) Victorian Section members awarded IEEE Millennium Medals (see Appendix A). Certificates presented at a commemorative dinner in Carlton (Jun 16). 2001 Signal Processing Chapter formed (Dec 20). Robert Slaviero (Analog Devices) founding chair.
2002 – Circuits & Systems Chapter formed (May 20). Jugdutt Singh (Victoria University) founding chair.
2003 – Monash University Student Branch formed (Sep 12). Shamim S. Hossain founding chair.
TENCON’05 Conference held in Melbourne (Nov 22-24). Prof Hugh Bradlow (Telstra) conference chair; Enn Vinnal (Telstra) conference vice-chair. This was the fifth TenCon held in Australia and the second in Victoria.
2006 – EMC Chapter formed (Jan 27). T. Malcolm Mulcare founding chair. WIE Affinity Group gets Honourable Mention in the 2006 Affinity Group of the Year competition.
RMIT Students WIE Affinity Group formed (Nov 2). Wai Chee Yau founding chair.
2007 – University of Melbourne Student Branch formed (May 9). Peng Hao founding chair. SSIT Chapter upgraded to “Joint Australian Sections Chapter” hosted by Victorian Section (effective May 30)
2008 – Twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations of IEEE Victorian Section (VIC25). Anniversary dinner held in Carlton (Sep 29). Distinguished guests included R10 Director Janina Mazierska and visiting DL fred. harris (UCSD).
Victoria University Student Branch formed (Sep 29). Leila Koushaeian founding chair
2009 – Tasmanian Sub-Section formed (Feb 14). Greg P. Timms founding chair. One hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations of IEEE founding society (AIEE) Re-launch of section newsletter (Uplink series III) (May). Alan L. Harvey, editor. Irena Atov elected 2010 Chair of IEEE-WIE Standing Committee (global)
2010 – Australia New Zealand Student Congress (ANZSCON 2010) held in Melbourne (Nov 25-26). VIP delegates included IEEE 2011 President-Elect Gordon W. Day. La Trobe University Student Branch formed . Eddie Custovic founding chair.
2012 – Dr. Greg Adamson Elected as Chair of Victorian Section, Vehicular Technology Society formed – Dr. Mehran Ektesabi innagural chair
2013 – Anthony Gascoigne elected as Chair of Victorian Section
2014 – Joint Oceanic Engineering Chapter formed
2015 – Edhem (Eddie) Custovic elected as Chair of Victorian Section,
2016 – Alan Harvey elected Chair of the Section
2020 – Mehrnaz Shoushtarian elected Chair of the Section
Past Section Officers
Year
Chair
Vice-Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
notes
1976 – 1980
–
–
–
Victorian Sub-Section of IEEE Australia Section approved in 1976 but nil recorded activity of this unit. (Sub-Section officers unknown).
1981 (Oct.)
Brian G. Love
K.S. Vasudeva
G. Norman Bell
G. Norman Bell
Sub-Section still officially existed, but it was formally re-established at a Special General Meeting in Oct 1981.
1982
Brian G. Love
K.S. Vasudeva (to Jun 1982)
G. Norman Bell
G. Norman Bell
I.W. Meldrum Vice-Chair from Jul 1982
1983
Brian G. Love
Ivor W. Meldrum (to Oct 1983)
G. Norman Bell
G. Norman Bell
Victorian Section approved on 12 Aug 1983. R.A. Court Vice-Chair from Oct 1983.
1984
Brian G. Love
Robin A. Court
G. Norman Bell
G. Norman Bell
–
1985
Robin A. Court
Anthony E. Gascoigne
James P. Baker (to Jun 1985)
James P. Baker (to Jun 1985)
J.C. Campbell Secretary/Treasurer from Jul 1985
1986
Robin A. Court
Anthony E. Gascoigne
John C. Campbell
John C. Campbell
1987
Robin A. Court
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Peter A. Evans
Peter A. Evans
1988
L. John Millott
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Robert A. Palmer
Robert A. Palmer
1989
L. John Millott
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Robert A. Palmer
Robert A. Palmer
1990
Bala S. Kumble
Anthony E. Gascoigne
John P. Nakulski
John P. Nakulski
1991
Bala S. Kumble
Michael K. Moore
John P. Nakulski
John P. Nakulski
1992
Bala S. Kumble
Michael K. Moore
John P. Nakulski
John P. Nakulski
1993
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Harry McDonald
John P. Nakulski
John P. Nakulski
1994
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Harry McDonald
John P. Nakulski
John P. Nakulski
1995
Harry McDonald (to Aug 1995)
Dalma Novak
Robert Slaviero
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Dalma Novak was Acting Chair from Sep-Dec 1995
1996
Dalma Novak
Robert Slaviero
Robert Slaviero
Anthony E. Gascoigne
1997
Dalma Novak
Robert Slaviero
Robert Slaviero
Anthony E. Gascoigne
1998
Dalma Novak
Robert Slaviero
Robert Slaviero
Anthony E. Gascoigne
1999
Robert Slaviero
Rodney B. Waterhouse
Michael K. Moore
Anthony E. Gascoigne
2000
Robert Slaviero
Rodney B. Waterhouse
Michael K. Moore
Anthony E. Gascoigne
2001
Robert Slaviero
Rodney B. Waterhouse
Peter A. Wills
Anthony E. Gascoigne
2002
Peter A. Wills
Enn Vinnal
Roger L. Venning
Anthony E. Gascoigne
H. L. King was Acting Treasurer from Sept 2002
2003
Peter A. Wills
Enn Vinnal
Roger L. Venning
Horace L. King
2004
Enn Vinnal
Horace L. King
Roger L. Venning
Peter A. Wills
2005
Enn Vinnal
Horace L. King
Dylan J. Radcliffe
Horace L. King
2006
Enn Vinnal
Horace L. King
Dylan J. Radcliffe
Horace L. King
2007
Dylan J. Radcliffe
Horace L. King
Paul V. Kubik
Anthony E. Gascoigne
2008
Horace L. King
Paul V. Kubik
Paul V. Kubik
Anthony E. Gascoigne
2009
Horace L. King
Paul V. Kubik
Paul V. Kubik
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Enn Vinnal appointed Assistant Treasurer in Feb 2009.
2010
Paul V. Kubik
Greg Adamson
Kam Ho
Anthony E. Gascoigne
2011
Paul V. Kubik
Greg Adamson
Kam Ho
Anthony E. Gascoigne
2012
Greg Adamson
–
Eddie Custovic
Enn Vinnal
2013
Greg Adamson
Eddie Custovic
–
Enn Vinnal
2014
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Alan Harvey
Golnar Khomami
Enn Vinnal
2015
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Alan Harvey
Golnar Khomami
Enn Vinnal
2016
Eddie Custovic
Golnar Khomami
Nishad Mendis
Enn Vinnal
2017
Eddie Custovic
Golnar Khomami
Nishad Mendis/Elspeth McKay
Enn Vinnal
2018
Alan Harvey
Golnoosh Tajadod
Elspeth McKay
Mehrnaz Shoushtarian
Major IEEE Awards to Victorian Section Volunteers & Groups
Year
Award
Recipient(s)
Notes
1984
IEEE Centenary Medal
Douglas G. Lampard
Member of original sub-section and section committees
1995
Region 10 Outstanding Volunteer
Anthony E. Gascoigne
Inaugural award
2000
IEEE Millennium Medal
Lawrence W. Cahill, Robin A. Court, Chris W. Dobson, Anthony E. Gascoigne, Bala S. Kumble, Michael K. Moore, John P. Nakulski, Dalma Novak, Robert Slaviero, Enn Vinnal, Rodney B. Waterhouse
2007
Region 10 Outstanding Volunteer
Enn Vinnal
2013
Australian Council Best Student Branch
La Trobe University Student Branch
2015
Australian Council Best Student Branch
La Trobe University Student Branch
2015
IEEE MGA Board Young Professional Achievement Award
The IEEE Australia-New Zealand Student Congress (ANZSCON) was held in Melbourne from 24-26 November 2010. This inaugural event was designed to promote networking and interaction between IEEE student members from Australia and New Zealand. Distinguished guests included Joseph V. Lillie, IEEE Treasurer and Executive Committee member, and Gordon W. Day, IEEE President-Elect for 2011.
Additional hyperlinks by a variety of organisations and authors related to the history of electrical, electronics, computing, telecommunications and IT-related technology in Victoria and Australia are presented below with many thanks and acknowledgments to their authors and providers: